Andrey Rublev doesn’t understand how Jannik Sinner was allowed to play amidst doping row
Like most other tennis stars, Andrey Rublev too took a stance not-so-supportive of currently suspended Jannik Sinner.
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Andrey Rublev and Jannik Sinner (via Reuters)
BB Tennis interviewed Alex De Minaur, Karen Khachanov, Andrey Rublev, Stefanos Tsitsipas, Alexander Bublik, and Alexey Popyrin about the recent Jannik Sinner’s three-month suspension from tennis negotiated by WADA. World No. 10 Andrey Rublev weighed in on the case, criticizing the lack of transparency and how unfair it was in contrast to other cases like Jenson Brooksby, Mikael Ymer and Simona Halep‘s.
While discussing this case he also referenced the Jenson Brooksby and Mikael Ymer doping cases. American tennis player Brooksby and Swedish player Ymer both faced suspensions due to violations of anti-doping regulations concerning missed tests. Brooksby received an 18-month suspension after an independent tribunal determined he missed three drug tests within a 12-month period.
In general, it’s not even a question of Jannik’s case specifically, it’s more that the system of doping detection itself is probably wrong. You can’t even make a small mistake. Take Russian guys, for example, or take others like Brooksby and Ymer…They were suspended because they simply missed the doping test three times. It was not a question of positive or negative test. It’s not that they didn’t open the door. They forgot to fill out the doping test forms and, therefore missed it three times. As a result, they were suspended for two years without any trial. It was a truly harsh decision.
Andrey Rublev via BB Tennis
However, in February 2024, the ITIA reached an agreement with Jenson Brooksby to reduce the ban to 13 months, backdating it to the time of the third missed test, making him eligible to return to competition on March 3, 2024. Similarly, Mikael Ymer was suspended for 18 months after missing three out-of-competition drug tests within a year.
Andrey Rublev latest player speaking up against the Sinner settlement with BB Tennis.
— Pavvy G (@pavyg) February 21, 2025
Said decision was unfair and notes double standards with @Simona_Halep and how Brooksby and Ymer got bigger sanction for just missing a test.
Doesn't understand how Sinner was allowed to play. pic.twitter.com/hQKTUkvaIm
Despite maintaining his innocence and appealing the decision, Ymer’s suspension was upheld. Following the failed appeal, Ymer announced his retirement from professional tennis in August 2023. However, he later reversed his decision and returned to competition in January 2025, winning his first tournament back on the ITF World Tennis Tour at M25 Esch/Alzette.
Jannik Sinner is suspended form February 9 to May 4
Jannik Sinner was tested positive twice last year for clostebol, a banned substance. He was initially exonerated by the ITIA but this decision was later challenged by the WADA. With their appeal, the WADA sought to potentially ban Sinner for two years, with a hearing for this scheduled for April 16-17.
However, the WADA accepted Sinner’s explanation that the drug entered his system without his knowledge due to the use of a spray by his physiotherapist. Accepting accountability for the negligence of his entourage, they settled for a three-month ban for the Italian, effective from February 9 to May 4, 2025, which they deemed appropriate considering the nature of the case.
In Sinner’s case, they did everything quickly. They allowed him to play during the investigation. In contrast, we have the Halep’s case. How long did she wait for the investigation to start? She couldn’t play for a year or something… That’s the problem, it should not be that way in my opinion.
Andrey Rublev added
Andrey Rublev had a rather disappointing start to his 2025 season, exiting after his first round matches at the Hong Kong Open and Australian Open. He improved his form later on, reaching the semifinals of the Open Occitanie and the quarterfinals of the Rotterdam Open.
Rublev had a pretty good run in Doha so far, where he faced Jack Draper in the finals of the Qatar Open. A hard-fought three-setter match saw Rublev emerge trumps and extend his impressive h2h record against Draper.
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Lakshya Chopra
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